Number
170188
Version
SUBSTITUTE 3
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN, KOVAC AND RAINEY
Title
A substitute ordinance relating to deconstruction of residential buildings.
Sections
200-19-2 am
218-10 cr
Analysis
This ordinance creates deconstruction requirements for the removal of Milwaukee’s older and more historic primary dwelling structures, for the purposes of:
a. Maximizing the salvage of valuable building materials, especially old-growth structural lumber, for reuse, thereby supporting the city’s goal of being a sustainable community.
b. Reducing the amount of demolition waste disposed of in landfills, thereby saving city and taxpayer dollars, extending the lives of existing landfills and reducing the need to create new landfills.
c. Creating employment opportunities for city residents, as the deconstruction process is much more labor-intensive than demolition, which relies on the use of heavy mechanical equipment.
d. Reducing carbon emissions associated with demolition activity by preserving the embodied carbon and energy of existing building materials and avoiding the creation of greenhouse gasses associated with producing new materials.
e. Minimizing the adverse impacts associated with building removal by increasing the likelihood of discovering materials containing lead and asbestos for safe removal and disposal.
f. Reducing the release of dust and other hazardous or potentially hazardous airborne substances associated with mechanical demolition of structures.
g. Preserving Milwaukee’s historic architectural features and building materials.
Specifically, effective January 1, 2018, this ordinance requires deconstruction, rather than demolition, whenever a permit application is filed for demolition of any of the following:
a. A primary dwelling structure (i.e. a residential structure with one to four dwelling units) that was built in 1929 or earlier according to building permit records on file with the department of neighborhood ser...
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